Van Glad said the letter, which was also sent to local and state elected officials, further questioned why the Log Cabin product was shelved in such close proximity to real maple syrup. Its cheaper price could additionally sway purchasing decisions.

The Maple Producers Association recently heard back from the state, which said it is looking into the issue. I know a consumer who will provide expert testimony if asked.

Yes! That new jug drives me nuts! I don't often see Grade B maple syrup in our local grocery stores, but I check often just in case. That's when I saw that jug and got all excited that Log Cabin got into the maple syrup business... until I took a closer look.

Log Cabin is unquestionably trying to mislead consumers, but who are they misleading? People who fail to turn the bottle around and read the ingredients. The best solution to problems like this isn't to have the state policing labels for relatively minor deceptions--it's for people to turn the bottle around and learn about what they're buying.

Hello RobI'm back on your blog now from a long hiatus. My wife's been keeping up, but I got inundated w/ work. I'm glad to be reading it again, however.

I wanted to comment on Anonymous' (3:39 pm) post. It is true: the best solution is not state intervention. That's rarely, if ever, the best thing. And I believe the service that blogs like yours and people like you and my wife perform is in increasing awareness amongst the populace, encouraging them to not be afraid to try to learn about what they're buying, cooking, and eating.

But it would be much better still if cigarette, alcohol, fat explosion, etc. companies policed themselves. That, I suppose, is largely naive, but there are responsible (and profitable) companies out there. But to pretend that "personal responsibility" means only that consumers must work harder, and not that businesses must work harder or profit slightly less through non-manipulative advertising, is unfair.

So, since the great majority (and since the most powerful of them) don't police themselves, as long as there are impressionable people around, and as long as other people's actions and poor choices have direct and indirect effects on other people, I'm ok w/ small interventions on the part of the government. (There is, of course, vagueness in what counts as "small"; but we have to draw arbitrary lines w/ many issues.)

It's a step in the right direction with No Fructose Corn Syrup and Rice Syrup instead of all Sugar. I am glad they offer it. Not everyone can afford Maple Syrup so this is a good intermediary step for those trying to make better choices.

I actually bought this knowing it was brown rice syrup. The product was not claiming to be 100% maple syrup, so don't slam it for labeling. Maple syrup has polyphenols my son should not have due to his Down syndrome, as maple syrup will up regulate the SOD1 gene to exacerbate hypotonia among other issues, and with the low percentage of maple syrup in this product, the level of polyphenols is significantly reduced. It is also gluten free and no high fructose corn syrup. I would not shun this syrup just because it isn't 100% maple. Sometimes for some people, maple syrup is not the best. That said, this is a poorly written article--it does not consider that this product may actually be a better fit for some populations. A good article would explore and discuss all sides of an issue. Don't be so closed with your own self-decided narrow definition of healthy that you cannot see all sides of an issue.

I am not a Log Cabin fan but really, the jug does NOT say the word MAPLE. It says Log Cabin Syrup and we all know Log Cabin has never been in the business of selling Maple Syrup. At least this version is 4% Maple vs. most others that have no maple but rather artificial ingredients, fructose etc. The fact that the product uses a smeaky maple like jug does not trump the fact that it does not say maple anywhere except in its ingredients, where it belongs.

Some members of my family actually prefer the taste of "artificial" maple syrup to real, but I would never buy it for them because of the preservatives and HFC. But now THIS product is something I can indulge them with. It tastes just exactly the same without the nasty ingredients!. Health wise, maple is o healthier than sugar or brown rice syrup, so that point is moot.

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Rob Endelman is a chef who, in addition to teaching cooking technique, empowers people with the knowledge to make better choices when it comes to buying and preparing food.
Chef Rob believes that a lack of awareness about our industrial food supply has contributed to the increase in modern diseases such as obesity, cancers and food allergies.
Feel free to contact Chef Rob at robATthedelicioustruthblogDOTcom.